Talks with US nuclear firms already on

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NEW DELHI: As the nuclear deal entered the last stage, the government has said that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India has started a preliminary dialogue with US companies for civilian nuclear cooperation.

So far, around 15 nuclear firms from the US have expressed an interest in doing business in India. These companies include General Electric and Westinghouse.

Though the government is also working towards finalising agreements with other countries, these look to be operationalised only after the 123 agreement is finalised. In a statement released through the ministry of external affairs, the government reassured the US that India would wait for the 123 agreement to be operationalised before entering into nuclear agreements with other countries. ���We have informed the USA about our intent to source state of the art nuclear technologies and facilities based on the provisions of the 123 agreement from the US,������ MEA official spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.

He further said that India is also moving forward on initiating civilian nuclear cooperation with other countries but that cooperation start only after the 123 agreement comes into force. ���Government is also moving towards finalising bilateral agreements with other friendly partner countries such as France and Russia,������ he said, adding, ���while actual cooperation will commence after bilateral agreements like the 123 Agreement come into force, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India has already commenced a preliminary dialogue with US companies in this regard.������

This statement comes after external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee himself reassured the Bush administrating saying that India would wait for the 123 agreement to be finalised before entering into cooperation with other countries.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had urged India not to ���disadvantage��� US by doing nuclear trade with other countries before the US Congress gave its stamp of approval for the nuclear deal.

Russia and France lead the pack of countries that are keen to enter into civilian nuclear commerce with India.

Russia has been keen to sign a bilateral agreement to supply four more reactors in Kuddankulum since last year. In fact, the matter was raised as late as August when national security advisor M K Narayanan traveled to Moscow where he also called on President Dmitry Medvedev.

It is understood that Russian President will visit India in the beginning of December, and Moscow is keen that the bilateral agreement is signed during the President���s visit.

Similarly, India has also finalised a bilateral agreement with France.

Till now both these agreements were pending NSG approval. ``I can inform you that following the NSG statement which enables civil nuclear cooperation by NSG members with India, government is taking steps to realise commercial cooperation with foreign partners in this field,������ Mr Sarna said.